The Light cinema was to the place to be in Bolton this week as the stars of the new BBC 3 horror drama Red Rose stood on the red carpet for the premiere of the forthcoming TV series.
The series was filmed mostly in Bolton due to the show’s writers and creators Michael and Paul Clarkson, otherwise known as the Clarkson Twins, coming from the town.
Red Rose
Amelia Clarkson (no relation to the Clarkson twins), who played the role of Rosina Hoblyn in the period drama Poldark, plays the lead character in the new eight-part series which premieres on 15 August.
Joining Amelia in the series are Isis Hainsworth, Ali Khan, Ellis Howard, Ashna Rabheru, Gentleman Jack actress Natalie Gavin and Adam Nagaitis.
The gripping TV series concerns the intoxicating relationship between a group of teenagers and their online lives. Set in the long hot summer following GCSEs, their friendships are infiltrated by the Red Rose app which appears on their smartphones, threatening them with dangerous consequences if they do not meet its demands. The app exposes the group to a seemingly supernatural entity and the seductive, terrifying power of the dark web. Red Rose is ultimately a story of friendship, told through the prism of a classic horror-thriller.
The Bolton audience at The Light cinema were shown the first episode of the series – and I have to say that it held my interest throughout as you never knew what was going to happen next. The brooding background of the Pennines which rise above Bolton, with many scenes shot on the moors, provide the perfect location for this chilling and addictive TV series.
The Clarkson Twins return to Bolton
“We always wanted to set a story in our hometown” explained Paul Clarkson to me. “The voices of the north are brilliant, in the north there is a little anarchy compared to the south where people behave and are willing to accept more”.
Twin brother Michael says that Bolton is so diverse that it was the perfect location for the series:
“Here in Bolton you have the council estates, the town centre, the moors, the forest. When we were showing some of the producers around the town they could not believe how when you took a right turn from a street and then see a stream and a forest, what a mix that you get in Lancashire and even Yorkshire, perfect for a film and TV location.”
For the programmes lead Amelia, appearing in Red Rose was in complete contrast to her previous BBC show, Poldark. “ I had the best time filming Red Rose, it Is set in a horror genre but there are hints of comedy in there”, enthused the young actor.
From what I saw of the first episode I cannot wait to see episode 2. Highly recommended. Red Rose will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer from Monday 15 August in the UK and will appear later on Netflix for the rest of the world.
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